Collapsible outdoor lighted Christmas tree ensemble

• US 6,062,701 A
• Filed: 01/29/1998
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scott W. Hines
• Original Assignee: Scott W. Hines
• Inventors: Hines, Scott W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Vip
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOPPER, TODD R
• Application Number:
  US09/015,241
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 362/123, 362/249, 362/252, 362/806
• US Class Current: 362/123
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/06 Artificial Christmas trees
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/10 with light sources attached to loose electric cables, e.g. Christmas tree lights
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/04 for Christmas trees

Abstract

A telescoping, outdoor, lighted, Christmas tree exhibit, which at night will simulate a lighted Christmas tree. The Christmas tree exhibit comprises a plurality of concentric hoops, populated with Christmas lights. The hoops are each of decreasing diameter that are sequentially interconnected by a plurality of concentric non stretching, flexible plastic bands, each hoop decreasing in size at the same rate as the hoop before it, with the largest-diameter hoop at the bottom of the Christmas tree exhibit and the smallest-diameter hoop at the top of the Christmas tree exhibit, when fully extended, a conical, tree-shaped appearance is obtained. Preceding the uppermost hoop is a top disk that is connected to the top end of the non stretching, flexible plastic bands. The top disk is supported by an adjustable, collapsible center pole. The bottom end of the non stretching, flexible plastic bands are anchored at the bottom of Christmas tree exhibit, so that when the non stretching, flexible plastic bands are fully extended and pulled taut, the hoops of the tree are completely suspended off the ground and the Christmas tree is standing. The tree is light weight and wind resistant. When disassembled, the hoops rest one inside the other, not touching each other, allowing the lights to stay attached to the hoops while in storage and preventing the breakage of bulbs and entangling of lights, resulting in a quick pop-up installation, and quick disassembly with minimal storage space required.

Claims

1. A collapsible outdoor, lighted Christmas tree ensemble comprising of:

a plurality of concentric hoops, formed of a rectangular, rigid flat plastic, each of decreasing diameter that are sequentially interconnected by a plurality of non stretching, flexible plastic bands, with the largest-diameter hoop at the bottom of said tree ensemble;

each hoop decreases in size at the same rate as the hoop before to form a conical tree shape appearance;

following the upper most hoop attached to the top end of the said non stretching, flexible plastic bands, is a rigid flat, plastic disk;

at the bottom end of the said non stretching, flexible plastic bands, is a loop to slide a stake through, for anchoring into the ground;

said disk is supported by an adjustable, collapsible center pole and at the top end of said adjustable, collapsible, center pole is a threaded stem that is inserted and protrudes through a center hole of said disk, prior to raising said tree ensemble, a tubular star extension with a threaded female end is fitted to the said adjustable, collapsible center pole'"'"'s threaded stem, when said adjustable, collapsible center pole is extended the said non stretching flexible bands are pulled taut, suspending said hoops of the tree off the ground to form a conical tree shape, erecting said tree ensemble;

Christmas light bulbs or conventional Christmas light clips are inserted with the bulbs pointing upward through a multiple of evenly spaced holes around the outer perimeter of said disk'"'"'s face, and on each said hoop of said tree ensemble, said Christmas light sockets are attached to said hoop with the bulbs pointing upward in an orderly fashion affixed by plastic, wire light fasteners;

therefore when the collapsible center pole is removed from Christmas tree ensemble, said hoops are lowered resting one inside the other, not touching each other and said Christmas lights stay affixed to said hoops and said disk for quick storage and Christmas tree ensemble reset up.

2. An ensemble as in claim 1, wherein, said hoops are formed of a rectangular, rigid, flat, plastic to obtain a small profile of approximately three-fourths of an inch in height and of a dark color to be virtually invisible at night allowing only the said Christmas lights to be noticeable giving the appearance of a lighted Christmas tree at night.

3. An ensemble as in claim 1, wherein, said Christmas lights fasten with said plastic, wire light fastener, in order to allow said Christmas lights socket to rest vertically on the inner or outer face of said hoops, allowing said bulbs to stand upright and above said hoops;

a.) In order for said bulbs to be visible and not obstructed by said hoops at any angle, allowing visibility through said tree ensemble and providing a more full appearance;

b.) Allowing base of said Christmas light socket to rest flat in a storage box, keeping said bulbs from touching any surface to prevent breakage or damage to said bulbs.

4. An ensemble as in claim 1, wherein, said adjustable, collapsible center pole, with a threaded male stem at the top of said adjustable, collapsible center pole, is fitted into the threaded female end of said star tubular extension for stabilizing said star tubular extension.

5. An ensemble as in claim 1, where the star tubular extension end is threaded on the threaded male end of said adjustable, collapsible center pole, raising a tree star or a tree top fixture above said disk and said Christmas lights around said disk, preventing obstruction to said Christmas lights providing a true tree shape appearance.

6. A tree ensemble as in claim 1, wherein, said plastic disk is conformed with a center hole through said plastic disk'"'"'s flat surface, face for inserting, said threaded male stem of said adjustable, collapsible center pole, and a multiple of evenly spaced holes through the face of said disk'"'"'s flat surface, around the outer perimeter of said disk to insert said Christmas lights allowing said Christmas lights to be attached in the upright position at top of said tree ensemble and camouflage said disk to be unnoticed at night.